Reuters: Sports News

Fatigued Beckham switches focus to loan spell in Italy

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:30:14 GMT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bruised, battered and fatigued after enjoying his most successful season with Los Angeles Galaxy, David Beckham turned his thoughts on Tuesday to his loan spell with AC Milan in January.

Federer crushes Murray to end year on top

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:57:53 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - There are plenty of special effects inside the O2 Arena for the ATP Tour Finals but nothing could match the sight of Roger Federer in full flow as he beat Andy Murray Tuesday to guarantee the year-end No.1 ranking.

My serve was pants, says beaten Murray

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:48:03 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray rated his serve as 'pants' Tuesday but was still optimistic about reaching the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals despite being out-hit and out-foxed by Roger Federer.

Liverpool go out as Fiorentina, Arsenal progress

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:57:27 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Five-times winners Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages despite a 1-0 win at Debrecen on Tuesday while Fiorentina and Arsenal qualified for the last 16.

Federer crushes Murray to end year on top

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:24:47 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer rebounded from a poor start to crush Andy Murray at the ATP World Tour Finals on Tuesday, claiming a 3-6 6-3 6-1 victory that ensures he will end the year as the world's top ranked player for a fifth time.

Roddick targets London 2012 Olympics

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:47:59 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - When injured American Andy Roddick was caught on camera watching the action at the ATP World Tour Finals, the applause that rang around the cavernous O2 Arena spoke volumes for his popularity in London.

VfB Stuttgart eliminate Rangers with 2-0 win

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:42:41 GMT

GLASGOW (Reuters) - VfB Stuttgart eliminated Rangers from the Champions League with a 2-0 away win on Tuesday which kept alive the German side's hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Liverpool knocked out of Champions League despite win

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:57:23 GMT

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Five-times champions Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday despite a 1-0 victory over Debrecen in Group E.

Arsenal beat Liege 2-0 to go through in top spot

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:41:29 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal secured their place in the knockout phase of the Champions League for the 10th successive season when a comfortable 2-0 win over Standard Liege secured top spot in Group H with a game to spare on Tuesday.

South Africa coach welcomes umpire referrals

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:06:56 GMT

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa coach Mickey Arthur welcomed Tuesday the decision to use an umpire referral system in next month's home series against England.

Hart sacked as Portsmouth manager

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:08:46 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Paul Hart became the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season on Tuesday when he was sacked by bottom club Portsmouth.

Richards resigns from England's 2018 bid

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:06:35 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Premier League chairman Dave Richards resigned from the board of England's 2018 World Cup bid on Tuesday.

BMW to test young drivers despite F1 pullout

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:51:44 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - BMW will test American teenager Alexander Rossi and Mexican Esteban Gutierrez in southern Spain next week despite pulling out of Formula One, the German carmaker said on Tuesday.

Briatore asks court to overturn life ban

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:35:02 GMT

PARIS (Reuters) - Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore asked a French court to overturn his life ban from Formula One on Tuesday, saying he had been denied his right to a free and fair defence.

Indian openers Gambhir, Sehwag stroke centuries

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:35:22 GMT

KANPUR, India (Reuters) - Indian openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag struck sparkling centuries as India amassed 417-2 to take a firm grip of the second test against Sri Lanka after the first day's play Tuesday.

Libya says Gaddafi will mediate in soccer dispute

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:49:44 GMT

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has accepted an Arab League request to calm tension between Egypt and Algeria sparked by their soccer World Cup play-off matches, Libyan state media reported Tuesday.

Juventus fined for insulting Balotelli chant

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:17:50 GMT

MILAN (Reuters) - Juventus have been fined 20,000 euros (18,000 pounds) after fans continually chanted an offensive song about Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli at the weekend, the Italian league said in statement on Tuesday.

Peel only change to Wales lineup for Wallabies clash

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:03:23 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Wales have brought in Dwayne Peel to replace Gareth Cooper at scrum half for Saturday's match with Australia at the Millennium Stadium in the only change to the lineup from last weekend's win over Argentina.

Ronaldo poised to return for FC Zurich clash

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:48:04 GMT

MADRID (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to play some part in Real Madrid's Champions League match against FC Zurich on Wednesday after a two-month absence through injury

Eton game spreads to inner cities

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:01:29 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - A casual reference to Eton Fives among members of the British public prompts general bemusement.

France make changes, wary of All Blacks threat

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:48:26 GMT

MARCOUSSIS, France (Reuters) - France coach Marc Lievremont has made seven changes to the team that defeated world champions South Africa for Saturday's game against New Zealand.

Salary caps will affect developing game - Scudamore

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:43:59 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore warned Asian clubs on Tuesday that a salary cap would have a detrimental effect on their game.

Force India to test Di Resta, Hildebrand

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:07:57 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Paul di Resta, the cousin of IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti, will test for Force India in Spain next week along with young American J.R. Hildebrand, the Formula One team said Tuesday.

Soderling haunts Nadal again

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:31:30 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Swede Robin Soderling returned to haunt Rafael Nadal on Monday with a 6-4 6-4 victory as battle commenced in Group B at the ATP World Tour finals.

Asian football signs billion-dollar rights deal

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:05:38 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam signed a $1 billion (604.2 million pound) rights deal with World Sports Group on Tuesday.